Waratahs and Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi left training in an ambulance after an incident

Waratahs players were left in shock on Thursday after an ambulance was called to take a teammate to hospital following a training incident.

The Waratahs are anxiously awaiting news on the health of star centre Lalakai Foketi who was taken to hospital by ambulance on Thursday after suffering a neck injury ina training incident which puts him in extreme doubt for Saturday’s Super Rugby season opener.

Foketi was treated for 30 minutes by paramedics on the sidelines of the Waratahs Daceyville training base after reportedly hurting himself in a ruck.

The 29-year-old was put in a neck brace before transported to the Prince of Wales Hospital hospital where his family were due to meet him.

Foketi, who has also played nine times for the Wallabies, had been named to start at inside centre against the Reds on Saturday’s opening clash of the season.

It’s believed he mad movement in his fingers but the full extent of his injury was unclear.

His teammates were left shocked and huddled around him after the incident before he was moved to the sidelines for treatment and the club confirmed they were waiting for scans results.

“The club is awaiting the results from the scans and Foketi’s family are with him in hospital. Club representatives have been on hand to provide support throughout the day,” a Waratahs statement said.

“The Waratahs would like to thank the amazing staff at the Prince of Wales Hospital and will provide further updates on Foketi as they come to hand.

“Head Coach Darren Coleman will be able to provide further light on Foketi’s condition and changes to the team’s line-up at tomorrow’s media opportunity”

Lalakai Foketi of the Waratahs has been taken to hospital (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

It’s another issue for the Waratahs who head into the match after two concerning pre-season losses including a big loss to the Reds.

But prop Angus Bell downplayed their form, saying they weren’t wanting to show much before their first-round hit out.

“We’ve gone the past two years winning all our trials and we’ve come into the season and got opposite results. Trial form doesn’t mean much, it’s about us getting back into our footy,” Bell said.

“We weren’t happy with the results, but we’re excited that we get to prove everyone else wrong this weekend when we beat the Reds at Suncorp.

“We came into that week not wanting to show very much.

“You don’t want to show your hand before you play them and certain things that we think will work against the Reds in a trial. [But] It’s not down to that. We weren’t good enough in some aspects and gave them too much time.”

The Waratahs will clash with the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Originally published as Waratahs and Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi left training in an ambulance after an incident